weregild (Meaning)
weregild (n.)
The price of a man's head; a compensation paid of a man killed, partly to the king for the loss of a subject, partly to the lord of a vassal, and partly to the next of kin. It was paid by the murderer.
Synonyms & Antonyms of weregild
No Synonyms and anytonyms found
weregild Sentence Examples
- In Anglo-Saxon society, weregild was the monetary value placed on a person's life, used as compensation for their death.
- The amount of weregild varied depending on the victim's social status and the circumstances of their death.
- If a nobleman was murdered, his family was entitled to a substantial weregild from the killer.
- Conversely, the weregild for a slave or a woman was significantly lower.
- Weregild could be paid in livestock, precious metals, or other valuables.
- It was believed that the payment of weregild restored social harmony and prevented blood feuds.
- The concept of weregild influenced later legal systems, including the Norman Conquest's system of fines for crimes.
- The historical records of weregild provide insights into the social and legal values of early medieval societies.
- In some cases, weregild could be used to ransom a captive back from their captors.
- The payment of weregild was an important aspect of Anglo-Saxon justice and played a significant role in maintaining social order.
FAQs About the word weregild
The price of a man's head; a compensation paid of a man killed, partly to the king for the loss of a subject, partly to the lord of a vassal, and partly to the
No synonyms found.
No antonyms found.
In Anglo-Saxon society, weregild was the monetary value placed on a person's life, used as compensation for their death.
The amount of weregild varied depending on the victim's social status and the circumstances of their death.
If a nobleman was murdered, his family was entitled to a substantial weregild from the killer.
Conversely, the weregild for a slave or a woman was significantly lower.
